Chapter 19: Skinning
"You really want to learn these Divine Abilities?"
Seeing Lu Yang's eager expression, Wang Borong was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but say, "Junior Brother, the Immortal Dao always prioritizes Realm. You must distinguish between what is primary and what is secondary."
In his opinion, Lu Yang, at such a young age, had earned so many contribution points. In the future, even if he didn't reach Foundation Establishment, at least Qi Refining Great Perfection was very promising. Why bother practicing those Divine Abilities with severe side effects? Even if his combat power reached the heavens, what then? When his Lifespan ran out, wouldn't he still turn into a handful of dust?
"Life is short, do not mislead yourself."
At this point, Wang Borong showed a sorrowful expression: "You are still young, you don't understand this principle yet. Flowers can bloom again, but youth never returns."
"You are in your prime now, but what about ten years from now? Twenty years from now?"
"The choice you make today might seem satisfying, but its drawbacks may only become apparent decades later. By then, there will be no Medicine for regret."
Before he finished speaking, Wang Borong seemed to fall into a reverie again. After a long while, he sighed with emotion: "You don't know, I, this old man, was very glorious in the Primordial Sect when I was young, but one wrong step led to a wasted life. Every time I think of it, I feel unbearable pain."
As he spoke, Wang Borong's eyes turned red.
With the alcohol getting to him, he simply pulled Lu Yang along and began recounting his glorious past.
Actually, it was nothing much; it was simply that when he was young, he didn't understand the importance of True Qi grades, and accidentally obtained a Cultivation Technique below the seventh grade, which he then Cultivated.
As a result, his True Qi grade was too low, making Foundation Establishment hopeless for life, and even Qi Refining Perfection difficult.
Over the past few decades, half of his body has been buried in the earth, while his former Senior Brothers and the women he admired have all extended their Lifespans, remaining youthful to this day.
How much regret and heartache must this cause? Yet, who in life can start over?
'What? I can start over? Then never mind'.
Seeing Wang Borong pass out drunk like that, Lu Yang finally stood up and, following Wang Borong's description, found the book "Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light."
Undeniably, this was indeed a Demonic Technique.
Lu Yang exchanged for it, his expression solemn: "Fast cultivation, severe side effects, high danger—it possesses almost all the characteristics a Demonic Path Cultivation Technique should have."
To master this Divine Ability, one must first select a Magic Treasure, then use the Magic Treasure to flay one's own skin alive, and then refine it with a secret technique. After eighty-one days, a Blood Transformation Treasure Light can be refined and attached to the Magic Treasure. Ordinary Cultivators will be injured if they brush against it and die if they touch it.
"At the same time, I myself will become a blood shadow that exists by relying on the Magic Treasure."
"As long as the Magic Treasure is not damaged, the blood shadow will not perish."
"The side effect is a halved Lifespan, and after transforming into a blood shadow, one is no longer human, but merely has a human form, thus cultivation will no longer progress."
"Good, it really suits me!"
Lu Yang's eyes gleamed brightly, and he immediately decided to practice this Divine Ability.
During his practice, he discovered that this Divine Ability actually had another version, which seemed to have been edited and optimized by a certain Great Cultivator.
"After all, this Divine Ability is indeed extraordinarily profound."
"The modified version does not require the Cultivator to flay their own skin for blood sacrifice, but instead has the Cultivator blood sacrifice their own siblings or descendants."
"In this way, this Divine Ability can also be refined. However, since the blood shadow refined in this manner is ultimately not the Cultivator himself, it is difficult to control freely, so there is a risk of backlash. But I am different; whether in this life or the next, the blood shadow will only be myself!"
Several days later, Lu Yang left the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
In addition, he also purchased a full copy of the "Divine Firmament Sword Control True Art" again, as this would allow him to openly display it in the future.
The next day, the "Cultivation Technique" arrived.
"Demon head!"
Looking at Yun Miaoqing, who was clutching the Magic Sword at her neck and staring at him with an unyielding expression, Lu Yang suddenly felt a sense of being in another world.
However, he quickly cast it aside.
"Sorry, I need the method and experience for refining Sword Pills."
"What? How do you know… Mm… Wait, you…!"
Once is strange, twice is familiar. Relying on his familiarity with Yun Miaoqing, Lu Yang went all out and quickly extracted the necessary knowledge and experience from her.
...
Pulling up his pants, Lu Yang turned and left.
This time, he went to "Ten Thousand Treasures Peak," the mountain corresponding to the Outer Gate Artifact Refining Hall, one of the Inner Gate Four Peaks. Most of the Primordial Sect's Magic Treasures originated from here.
"I want to rent a Earthfire furnace."
Upon arriving at the front desk, Lu Yang directly stated his request. After paying sufficient contribution points, he was invited into the highest-grade furnace room a quarter of an hour later.
After making all the preparations, he took out the Materials.
Three taels of gold essence, three taels of jade marrow, two taels of cinnabar, two taels of Sword Qi. Then, he performed a magical incantation, drawing fierce fire from the earth's core, and threw them all into the furnace!
"Although most of the Sword Pills in the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are refined by the elders of the sect, that is in the Righteous Path, where there is no need to worry about someone secretly tampering with things. This is the Primordial Sect; instead of hoping for the moral integrity of the Artifact Refining person, it's better for me to do it myself. At most, I'll just try a few more times."
One set of Materials costs 2000 contribution points.
Lu Yang had only earned a total of 10,000 contribution points. After deducting the cost of purchasing Divine Abilities and Cultivation Techniques, and repaying his loan, his entire fortune could only buy three sets of Materials for refining Sword Pills.
"If all three attempts fail, then I'll try again in the next life!"
With this thought, Lu Yang began to meticulously control the geofire to slowly condense all the Materials, strictly following the methods and experience he had extracted from Yun Miaoqing.
Gold essence melts jade marrow, cinnabar combines with Sword Qi…
Gradually, a pill appeared within Lu Yang's spiritual sense, but before he could rejoice, the pill suddenly trembled in place.
"Boom!"
It exploded.
One set of Materials was scrapped. Lu Yang calmly waved his sleeve to clear away the debris, silently summarizing his lessons learned: "My steps should have been correct."
"The problem lies in the final step."
Lu Yang reviewed Yun Miaoqing's memories, and understanding gradually dawned in his eyes:
"Refining a Sword Pill requires the sword and heart to be in harmony, and I haven't been cultivating the Divine Firmament Sword Control True Art for long, so my Realm in the Dao of the Sword is clearly lacking."
Logically, this is a strict requirement that can only be achieved through gradual cultivation.
However, this is from the perspective of the Righteous Path, as the Righteous Path emphasizes gradual progress and rarely uses quick-success methods that harm nature.
But the Demonic Path does not care about these things.
"The harmony of sword and heart, in the end, is about controlling the Sword Pill. If that's the case, my simultaneous cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light should have the same effect!"
"It might even have a better effect!"
After all, the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light involves sacrificing one's body to the treasure. Once mastered, one virtually merges with the Magic Treasure, and the degree of compatibility will surely far exceed the so-called harmony of sword and heart.
"However, to achieve this, the anesthetic I prepared beforehand cannot be used."
Refining a Sword Pill is a delicate task. If he were to take medication to suppress the pain, causing his reactions during refining to be half a beat slower, it would likely lead to failure.
Therefore, he had to remain conscious throughout the entire process.
"It's the Demonic Path, after all; you have to be ruthless to yourself. Otherwise, how can you be called a talent?"
Thinking of this, a ruthless glint immediately appeared in Lu Yang's eyes.
Moments later, he sat cross-legged before the geofire furnace, stuffing a piece of cloth into his mouth. Once the Sword Pill began to form again, he manipulated his Sword Qi to strike himself.